First Week - Lima to Quito

I arrived in Lima very late on Monday 3rd and stayed at the Point hostel. On the Tuesday I did very little - just caught up on sleep, watched films and got to know a few people. That evening, after a few 2-4-1 cocktails we all headed to the Miraflores district to a club/bar. It was a good night and they were a friendly lot.



On Wednesday I got a posh bus (Cruz del Sur) to Mancara. The bus station was like an airport lounge and you had to check in your luggage! The scenary out of Lima was stunning because the Panamerican highway follows the coast line up and you sverve round tight clifts and steep drops until suddenly the mountains disappear and you are at sea level. It was very beautiful but soon disappeared into darkness as it was an overnight bus. I sat next to a very friendly local but I couldn´t understand most of what he said!



I arrived in Mancara about 9.30am and got a tuk tuk to the Point hostel (recommended by the Point Lima surprisingly!) There wasn´t much happening at the hostel, mainly people recovering from hangovers and lazing around but it was a nice hostel and located right on the beach about 15mins walk into town. I walked along the beach into town. It is stange because it is just a strip of buildings along the Panamerican highway - like having the M1 go through your town but it is little more than a surfers town and small holiday resort for locals and the odd gringo. I filled the rest of the day eating, playing volley ball, reading, sunbathing and drinking. A lot of people left that day but a small group of us went to some bars in the evening-always fun.



The next day, very early, I was supposed to get a bus to Quito, Ecuador. A guy from the hostel, Julio, came with me into town to see me off. Lucky he did because the bus was running "about 3 hours late" so they made alternative arrangements for me none of which I could understand so it was good that Julio was there to translate. The bus company decided to accompany me across the border and put me on a bus the otherside. We jumped on a posh bus the the border town, Tumbes, good thing it was a posh bus with a toilet because I was very hungover/sick. Serves me right for playing drinking games at 3am. Then the guy from the bus company took me in a taxi to the Peruvian immagration, next to the border which we had to walk over (a very busy maket on a bridge), then a taxi to the bus company, then a taxi to the Ecuadorian immagration, then back to the bus company. Omg it was complicated. Then he left me there and said the bus would be 15 mins to Quito. 20mins later the bus station (room) was dead so I asked when the bus left - 2hours time. Damn. I wandered round the town which was quite amazing because it was a huge market where you could basically buy anything. I was still really scared of travelling/being alone at this point so apart from answering the locals when they talked to me I failed to interact. The bus did leave at 2.45 but it was a dingy bus and the journey was very long and freezing cold. I arrived in Quito at 4am having not had a meal since the previous day and very very tired and scared. I got a taxi to the Mirascel area - new town. Went to the Centre al Mundo hostel and the guy behind the desk couldn´t have been less pleased to see me. I was just glad to be safe and I fell asleep fully clothed!



Saturday morning I woke up in crummy, noisy, dirty centre al mundo. I do not recommend this hostel. The management are rubbish as well. Luckily, the people staying in the hostel were nice and gave me advice on the area. I went out for my first meal on my own - very scary but got talking to an English guy who was living in Quito. After lunch I wandered round and bumped into a local guy who had previously seen me and asked my name. He was very sweet and escorted me back to my hostel even though I had no intention of going there! Back in the hostel I met a Dutch girl called Momotaz who was also alone and we decided to attempt a trip into the old town together. Quito is a very long city amongst volcanoes and mountains and has very distinct sections. The Old town and New town are like two complete opposite cities. Anyway, we managed it and had a lovely afternoon wandering around the curches and old streets.



That evening Momotaz and I went out for dinner and then joined an american guy from the hostel, Dominique, for drinks with his local friends. We went to a bar were you could get all you can drink for $5 - crazy!!! The locals were really nice and we had a great evening. Went to a club called Bungerlow - very similar experience to Klute - hot and sweaty. I was wearing combats and a tank top and felt like a complete mess! Unfortunatelty the club was packed with Americans who had taken full advantage of the all you can drink and most of which could barely stand it was fun though!



That concludes my first week in South America. No photos because I failed to take any but the next posts will have some!